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SYNOD  OF  ILLINOIS, 


1870—1888. 


Compiled  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Prestley,  Stated  Clerk, 


and 


Published  by  the  Order  of  Presbytery. 


REVIEW  PRINT,  DECATUR,  ILLINOIS, 

1888. 


THE 3  HISTORY 

OF  THE 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRiN 


n 

jf  1 


ft 


SYNOD  OF  ILLINOIS, 


1870-1888. 


Compiled  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Prestley,  Stated  Clerk, 


and 


Published  by  the  Order  of  Presbytery. 


REVIEW  PRINT,  DECATUR,  ILLINOIS, 

1888. 


Map  Showing  the  Location  of  Churches  in 

THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 


2$5,m3 
f  'IXlak 


THE  PRESBYTERY 

- 03? - 

♦^SPRINGFIELD.^ 


The  Presbytery  of  Springfield,  as  constituted  by  the 
Synod  of  Illinois  Central,  Tuesday,  September  13,  1870, 
succeeds  the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon,  (O.S.),  and  that  of 
Illinois  (N.S.),  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Presby¬ 
teries  of  Bloomington  and  Peoria;  on  the  east  by  the  Pres¬ 
byteries  of  Bloomington  and  Mattoon;  on  the  south  by  the 
Synodical  boundary  line;  and  on  the  west  by  the  Presbyte¬ 
ries  of  Schuyler  and  Peoria,  including  in  its  territory 
Macon,  the  southern  portion  of  Logan,  Menard,  the  south¬ 
ern  portion  of  Mason,  Cass,  Morgan  and  Scott  counties. 
And  when  constituted  had  enrolled  the  following  named  Min¬ 
isters  and  Churches.  The  ministers  without  charge  were : 

Rev,  John  G.  Bergen,  D.  D.,  Billious  Pond,  Samuel  M. 
Wilson,  William  G.  Gallaher,  Josiah  Porter,  George  C. 
Wood,  Fielding  N.  Ewing,  John  W.  Scott,  D.  D.,  Tracy 
M.  Oviatt,  John  V.  Dodge,  George  W.  Birch,  James  R. 
Dunn,  Samuel  B.  Ayers,  Agt. ;  John  F.  Brooks,  Tea.;  Fred¬ 
erick  H.  Wines,  Sec’y- ;  Joseph  Platt,  H.  M. 


4  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  following  were  pastors: 

Revs.  J.  A.  Pinkerton,  Petersburg;  Livingston  M.  Glover, 
D.D.,  First  Jacksonville;  David  H.  Hamilton,  D.  D.,  West¬ 
minster,  Jacksonville;  G.  H.  Robertson,  Second  Springfield;  * 
W.W,  Harsha,  Central  Jacksonville ;  J.  A.  Reed,  First  Spring- 
field;  Asahel  L.  Brooks,  Second  Decatur;  John  Crozier, 
North  Sangamon;  J.  Augustus  Hood,  Maroa;  James  E. 
Moffatt,  First  Decatur;  Emmanuel  N.  Pires,  Second  Port. 
Jacksonville ;  James  D.  Kerr,  Farmington;  David  J.  Strain, 
Virginia;  Samuel  J.  Bogle,  P.  E.,  Mason  City. 

The  following  were  stated  supplies : 

Revs.  Albert  Hale, - ;  Erastus  W.  Thayer,  Dawson; 

Prof.  W.  D.  Sanders,  Pisgah;  Francis  I.  Moffitt,  Irish 
Grove;  John  Dale,  Providence;  F.  W,  Steffens,  Beardstown. 

The  following  churches  were  regularly  supplied: 

First  Port.  Springfield,  Union,  West  Union,  Chatham, 
Winchester. 

The  following  churches  were  vacant: 

Third  Springfield,  Lincoln,  Williamsville,  Bates,  Ma¬ 
con,  Pleasant  Plains,  Auburn,  Manchester,  Second  Port. 
Springfield,  First  Port.  Jacksonville,  Naples,  Illiopolis, 
Buffalo,  Bethel. 


Churches  Organized, 


Brush  Creek,  Hickory  Grove,  Pennsylvania,  Sweet¬ 
water,  Cent.  Port.  Jacksonville,  Greenview,  State  Street, 
Jacksonville;  Union,  Williamsville;  United  Port.  Jackson¬ 
ville. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  5 


Moderators  of  Presbytery. 


The  Moderators  of  Presbytery  have  been  as  follows: 


MODERATORS. 

YEAR. 

PLACE. 

Revs.  George  C.  Wood, 

rs 

O 

QO 

M 

Second,  Springfield 

L.  M.  Glover,  D.  D., 

1870, 

u  u 

John  Crozier, 

M 

00 

M 

Winchester. 

William  W.  Harsh  a, 

1871, 

North  Sangamon. 

Levi  P.  Crawford, 

1872, 

Decatur. 

David  J.  Strain, 

1872, 

Chatham. 

Samuel  M.  Wilson, 

1873. 

Lincoln. 

J.  Augustus  Hood, 

l873» 

Second,  Springfield 

Samuel  B.  Ayers, 

M 

00 

'-J 

s* 

Mason  City. 

Fielding  N.  Ewing, 

1^. 

GO 

M 

Farmington. 

Samuel  J.  Bogle, 

1875, 

Petersburg. 

Robert  Mackenzie, 

1875, 

Second,  Springfield 

George  H.  Fullerton, 

1876, 

Cent.,  Jacksonville. 

Samuel  M.  Morion, 

1876, 

North  Sangamon. 

John  D  Jones, 

1877, 

Virginia. 

Allan  McFarland, 

1877. 

Irish  Grove. 

Erastus  W.  Thayer, 

1878, 

Decatur. 

H.  V.  D.  Nevius,  D.D., 

1878, 

Chatham. 

William  N.  Steele, 

1879, 

Westr.,  Jacksonville 

John  Crozier, 

1879, 

Williamsville. 

David  J.  Strain, 

l880, 

Macon. 

Fred.  H.  Wines, 

1880, 

First,  Jacksonville. 

Samuel  J.  Bogle, 

l88l, 

Mason  City. 

Samuel  M.  Morton, 

l88l, 

First,  Springfield. 

James  A.  Reed,  D.  D., 

1882, 

Virginia. 

David  S.  Johnson,  D.D.,1882, 

Petersburg. 

John  P.  Dawson, 

M 

00 

00 

Oj 

Lincoln. 

6  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Revs.  William  H.  Prestley, 

1883, 

Pisgah. 

Ethan  S.  McMichael, 

1884, 

Westr.,  Jacksonville 

Asa  Leard, 

CN 

■e- 

00 

<x> 

M 

Greenview. 

Robert  M.  L.  Braden, 

1885, 

Mason  City. 

Thomas  C.  McFarland, 

1885, 

Farmington. 

Alexander  B.  Morey, 

l886,. 

Third,  Springfield. 

William  L.  Tarbet, 

1886, 

Pleasant  Plains. 

James  A.  Reed,  D,  D., 

1887, 

Lincoln. 

Elder  David  A.  Brown, 

1887, 

North  Sangamon. 

Rev.  Asa  Leard, 

1888, 

State  St.,  Jacksonville 

Stated  Clerks. 


The  stated  Clerks  of  Presbytery  have  been  as  follows: 

STATED  CLERKS.  TIME. 


Revs.  James  A.  Reed,  D.  D., 
Robert  Mackenzie, 
Allan  McFarland, 
William  H.  Prestley, 


1870 — 1876. 
1876 — 1877. 
3:87  7 — 1878. 
1878 - 


Ministers  Licensed. 

J.  F.  DeGarmo,  July  18,  1870. 

Joseph  F.  Cherry,  September  15,  1870. 
William  G.  Ready,  April  10,  1872. 
Wm.  Frackleton,  April  10,  1872. 

J.  I.  Gulick,  October,  10,  1875. 

Chas.  A.  Taylor,  October  10,  1875. 
William  J.  Harsha,  April  13,  1876. 
Frederick  J.  Stanley,  May  31,  1876. 


8  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Ministers  Received. 

Revs.  M.  P.  Ormsbv,  Sept.  13,  1870,  from  Pres.  Bloomington 

H.  M.  Paynter,  Sept.  13,  1870,  from  Pres.  Louisville. 

S.  P.  Crawford,  April  12,  1871,  from  Pres.  Ottowa. 

H.  W.  McKee,  April  12,  1871,  from  Pres.  Rio  de  Janeiro 

A.  McFarland,  April  12,  1871,  from  Pres.  Des  Moines. 

R.  W.  Allen,  April  12,  1871,  from  Pres.  St.  Louis. 

J.  H.  Harris,  Sept.  22,  1871,  from  Pres.  Mattoon. 

C.  D.  Shaw,  April  10,  1872,  from  Pres.  New  Castle. 
J.  D.  Jones,  April  10,  1872,  from  Pres.  Alton. 

Maurice  Waller,  April  10,  1872,  from  Pres.  Baltimore. 

T.  D.  Davis,  April  10,  1872,  from  Pres.  Potosi. 

IL  V.  D.  Nevius,  Oct.  12,  1873,  from  Pres.  Peoria. 

I.  W.  Ward,  April  9,  1873,  from  Pres.  Chicago. 

J.  D.  Jenkins,  April  9,  1873,  from  Pres.  St.  Louis. 

J.  E.  Williamson,  April  9,  1873,  from  M.  E.  Church. 
Aaron  Thompson,  Sept.  11,  1873,  from  Pres.  Mattoon 
Rudolph  Shide,  Sept.  11,  1873,  from  Pres.  St.  Louis. 
Robert  Mackenzie,  April  15, 1874,  from  Pres-  Ottawa. 
Wm.  N.  Steele,  Sept.  22,  1874,  from  Pres.  Bloomington 

B.  E.  Mayo,  Sept.  22,  1874,  from  Pres.  Bloomington. 

S.  M.  Morton,  Oct.  12,  1874,  from  Pres.  Bloomington. 
L.  C.  Littell,  April  14,  1875,  from  Pres.  Iowa. 

G.  H.  Fullerton,  April  14,  1875,  from  Pres.  Cincinnati. 
F.  W.  Steffens,  Sept.  27,  1876,  from  Pres.  Austin. 

E.  K.  Lynn,  Sept.  27,  1876,  from  Pres.  Bloomington. 
W.  IL  Prestley,  April  10, 1877,  from  Pres.  Mattoon. 
Chas.  B.  Barton,  April  10,  1877,  from  Pres.  Alton. 
Abraham  H.  Bates,  April  11, 1877,  from  Pres.  Oregon 
Alex.  S.  Peck,  April  10,  1878,  from  Pres.  Ottawa. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  9 

Revs.  H.  G.  Pollock,  April  io,  1878,  from  Pres.  Alton. 

F.  M.  Baldwin,  June  26,  1879,  from  Pi*es.  Transylvania. 
M.  M.  Cooper,  June  26,  1879,  from  Pres.  Cairo. 

J.  W.  Cecil,  Oct.  10,  1879,  from  Pres.  Mattoon. 

L.  Y.  Hays,  April  14*  1880,  from  Pres.  Sacramento. 
H.  C.  Mullen,  Sept.  14,  1880,  from  Pres.  Schuyler. 

E.  S.  McMichael,  Nov.  16,1880,  from  Pres.  Boston,  U.P. 
J.  P.  Dawson,  April  12,  1881,  from  Pres.  Schuyler. 

E.  N.  Pires,  April  12,  1881,  from  Pres.  St.  Louis. 

J.  R.  Sutherland,  D.  D.,  May  3,  1881,  from  Pres.  Kapids. 
S.  T.  Wilson,  D.D..May  3, 1881,  from  Pres.  Huntingdon 
Asa  Heard,  Sept.  7,  1881,  from  Pres.  Chicago. 

Aaron  Thompson,  Sept.  14,  1881,  from  Pres.  Schuyler. 
D.  S.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  Oct.  14,  1881,  from  Pres.  Chicago 
Geo.  B.  Black,  April  11,  1882,  from  Pres.  Rock  River. 
P.  C.  Thyholt,  April  12,  1882,  from  Pres.  Detroit. 

W.  L.  Tarbet,  April  10,  1883,  from  Pres.  Alton. 
Barnabas  Lyman,  Ap.  10,1883, from  Pres-  Decatur, C.P. 
Joel  Kennedy,  Sept.  12, 1883,  from  Pres.  Council  Bluffs 
D.  K.  Campbell,  Sept.  12,  1883,  Pres,  of  Palmyra. 

D.  H.  Mitchell,  June  19,  1884,  Pres,  of  Denver. 

A.  B.  Morey,  April  14,  1885,  Pres,  of  Cincinnati. 

S.  W.  Mitchell,  April  14, 1885,  Pres.  Pine  Bluffs,  So.  C. 

T.  C.  McFarland,  April  14,  1885,  Pres,  of  Iowa  City. 
Alonzo  Michael,  Mav  14,  1885,  Pr°s.  of  Mattoon. 

T.  M.  Watson,  Sep.  22,  1885,  Pres,  of  Rock  River. 
W.  N.  Steele,  Sep.  22,  1885,  Pres,  of  Alton. 

M.  H.  Ambrose,  April  12,  1887,  So.  Ill.  Asso.  Cong.  Ch. 
A.  H.  Bates,  April  12,1887,  Pres,  of  Chicago. 

Ashbel  G. Lane, April  12,  1887, Pres,  of  Bellefontaine. 
W.  H.  Ilsley,  April  12,  1887,  Pres,  of  Ottawa. 


IO  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Revs.  T.  W.  Leard,  April  12,  1887,  Pres,  of  Ottawa. 

W.  (\  West,  June  14,  1887,  Pres,  of  Bloomington. 
J.  M.  Cross,  D  D  Sept.  28,  1887,  Pres,  of  Zanesville. 
Orin  D.  Covert,  Sep.  28,  1887,  Pres,  of  Schuyler. 
William  Miller,  Sep.  28,  1887,  Pres,  of  Mankato. 


Ministers  Dismissed. 


Revs.  Geo.  W.  Birch,  Nov.  28,  1870,  to  Pres.  Ebenezer. 

Jno.  V.  Dodge.  Nov.  28,  1870,  to  Pres.  Vincennes. 

A.  L.  Brooks,  Nov.  28,  1870,  to  Pres.  Bloomington 
J.  W.  Scott,  D.  D.,  Feb.  1,  1871,  to  Pres.  Dayton. 

J.  A.  Pinkerton,  Sept.  18,  1870,  to  Pres.  Platte. 

Jas.  D.  Kerr,  Sep.  18,  1870,  to  Pres.  Missouri  River 

G.  H.  Robertson,  Sept.  22,  1871,  to  Pres.  Louisville. 
Joseph  Platt,  Sep.  22,  1871,  to  Pres.  Crawfordsville 
F.  I.  Mohatt,  Sep.  22,  1871,  to  Pres.  Rock  River. 

M.  P.  Ormsby,  Nov.  16,  1871,  to  Pres.  Peoria. 

J.  H.  Harris,  Sept.  18,  1872,  to  Pres.  Cincinnati. 

D.  H.  Hamilton,  D.  D.  Ap.9,1873,  to  Pres.  Porstmouth. 
J.  E.  Moffatt,  Sept.  11,  1873,  to  Pres.  Ottowa. 

T.  M.  Oviatt,  April  io,  1874*  Dropped  from  Roll. 
F.  W.  Steffens,  April  15,  1874,  to  Pres,  of  Austin. 
W.  G.  Ready,  April  15,  1874,  to  Pres.  of  Osage. 

J.  D.  Jenkins,  Sept.  22,  1874,  t0  Pres.  of  Mattoon. 

H.  M.  Paynter,  Sept.  23, 1874,  to  Pres,  of  New  York 
T.  D.  Davis,  Sept.  23,  1874,  t0  Pres,  of  Schuyler. 

J.  A.  Hood,  April,  14,  1875,  to  Pres,  of  Omaha. 

C.  D.  Shaw,  April  14,  1875,  to  Pres  of  New  Jersey 
J.  R.  Dunn,  Oct.  9,  1875,  to  Pres,  of  St.  Louis. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  I  I 

Revs.  E.  N.  Fires,  April  12,  1876,  to  Pres,  of  St.  Louis. 
Rudolph  Shide,  April  12,  187 6,  to  Pres,  of  St.  Louis 

R.  Mackenzie,  Sept.  27,1876,  Pres,  of  Crawfordsville 
L.  C.  Littell,  April  10,  1877,  to  Pres,  of  Matton. 

I.  W.  Ward,  April  10,  1877?  to  Pres,  of  Newburg. 

J.  E.  Williams,  April  11, 1877,  to  Pres,  of  Rock  River 

F.  W.  Steffens,  Sept.  19,  1877,  Ev.  Lutheran  Church. 
Allen  McFarland,  April  19,  1878,  to  Pres,  of  Cairo 
James  Thompson,  Sept,  n,  1878,  to  Pres,  of  Schuyler. 
A.  K.  Bates,  Oct.  11,  1878,  to  Pres,  of  Zanesville. 

L.  P.  Crawford,  Oct.  11,  1878,  Pres,  of  Bloomington 

E.  K.  Lynn,  April  8,-  1879,  to  Pre^.  of  Neosho. 

G.  H.  Fullerton,  June  29, 1879  t°  Pres,  of  Cincinnati 

H.  G .  Pollock,  Sept.  23,  1879, Pres-  of  Portsmouth 

S.  E.  Taylor,  April  25,  1880,  to  Pres  of  Colorado. 

M.  M.  Cooper,  Sept.  14,  1880,  Pres.  Bloomington. 
Maurice  Waller,  Sept.  14, 1880,  to  Pres.  Portsmouth. 
John  Crozier,  April  12,  1881,  to  Pres,  of  Cairo. 

A.  H.  Bates,  April  12,  1881,  to  Pres,  ot  Bloomington. 
W.  N.  Steele,  Sept.  7,  1881,  to  Pres,  of  Alton. 

A.  S.  Peck,  Sept.  7,  1881,  to  Pres,  of  DesMoines. 

F.  M.  Baldwin,  April  11,  1882,  to  Pres,  of  Ozark. 
S.T.  Wilson,  D.D.,Ap.  11,  i882,toPres.  St.Johns, Ch. So 
H.  C.  Mullen,  April  11,  1882,  to  Pres,  of  Peoria. 

B.  E.  Mayo,  April  1 1,  1882,  to  Pres.  Nebraska  Citv. 

S.  J.  Bogle,  April  12,  1882,  to  Pres.  Bellefountaine. 

J.  W.  Cecil,  Sept.  27,  1882,  to  Pres,  of  Logansport. 
J.  I.  Gulick,  Sept.  27,  1882,  to  Pres,  of  Monmouth. 

J.  C.  Cherryholmes,  Sept.  27, 1882,  to  Pres.  Red  River. 
P.  C.  Thyholt,  Nov.  27,  1882,  to  Pres,  of  Fort  Wayne. 
L.  Y.  Hays,  April  10, 1883,  to  Pres,  of  Crawfordsville. 


12  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Revs.  Aaron  Thompson,  April  io,  1883,  to  Pres,  of  Schuyler. 
J.  P.  Dawson,  April  9,  1884,  to  Pres,  of  Transylvania. 
J.  R.  Sutherland, D.D.,  June  19, 1884,  to  Pres.  Freeport. 
W.  W.  Harsha,  D.  D.  June  19,  1884,  to  Pres.  Omaha. 

A.  H.  Trick,  Dec.  15,  1884,  to  Pres,  of  Cario. 

Geo.  B.  Black,  March  16,  1885,  to  Pres,  of  Peoria. 

J.  F.  Cherry,  May  14,  1885,  to  Pres,  of  San  Jose. 

S-  W.  Mitchell,  Sept.  22,  1885,  to  Pres.  Potosi,  (Ch.So.) 
R.  M.  L.  Braden,  Jan.  21,  1886,  to  Pres,  of  Omaha. 
Joel  Kennedy,  April,  13,  1886,  to  Pres.  Cedar  Rapids. 
D.  K.  Campbell,  Oct.  25,  1886,  to  Pres,  of  Alton, 

B.  Lyman,  Sept.  28,  1887,^0  Pres,  of  Pembina. 

T.  C.  McFarland,  Sept.  28,  1887,  to  Pres.  So.  Dakota. 
W.  N.  Steele,  April  10,  1888,  to  Pres,  of  Bloomington. 
A.  Michael,  April  10,  1888,  to  Pres,  of  Mahoning. 


Ministers  Deceased, 


Revs.  John  Dale,  November  15,  1871. 

John  G.  Bergen,  D.  D.,  January  17,  1872. 
Billious  Pond,  December  9,  1874. 

H.  W.  McKee,  May  21,  1877. 

Geo.  C.  Wood,  January  5,  1879. 

L.  M.  Glover,  D.  D.,July  15,  1880. 
Fielding  N.  Ewing,  November  25,  1880. 
Wm.  G.  Gallaher,  December  8,  1881. 
Robert  W.  Allen,  D.  D.,  July  29,  1882, 
Samuel  M.  Wilson,  April  18,  1883. 

Josiah  Porter,  January  11,  1887. 

Samuel  B.  Ayers,  December  15,  1887. 


CHURCHES. 


Jacksonville  First  Church  was  organized,  June  30 
1827,  with  twelve  members. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  two  members,  viz : 
John  Leeper  and  William  C.  Posey;  but  was  very  shortly 
afterwards  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  James  Kerr  and 
Hector  G.  Taylor.  The  pastors  serving  this  church  have 
been: 

Revs.  John  M.  Ellis,  from  April 


A.  H.  Dashiell, 
Ralph  W.  Gridley, 
W.  H.  Williams, 
Chauncey  Eddy, 

L.  M.  Glover,  D.  D. 


u 


u 


a 


u 


u 


Dec. 

April 

May 

June 

Nov. 


1830  to 

183s 

1838 
1842 

i84+ 

1848 

l88l 


Dec. 
Oct. 
“  Feb. 
Sept. 


a 


u 


u 


July 

June 


1831. 

1836. 

I84O. 

1843. 

1848. 

1880. 

1884. 


Jno.R. Sutherland, D.D.  May 
This  church,  April,  1885,  entered  into  organic  union 
with  the  Central  Church,  Jacksonville;  the  sessions  of  the 
two  churches  uniting;  and  the  united  church  taking  the 
name  of  the  State  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Jacksonville, 
Illinois. 


I4 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Springfield  First  Church  was  organized  as  “San¬ 
gamon, v  Jan.  30,  1828,  with  eighteen  members,  and  after¬ 
wards  was  designated  as  the  First  Church,  Springfield,  Ills. 

The  first  session  was  constituted  with  four  members, 
Messrs.  John  Moore,  Samuel  Reid,  Isaiah  Stillman  and 
John  N.  Moore. 

The  first  year  this  church  wras  without  a  pastor.  Rev. 
John  G.  Bergen  vTas  sent  as  a  stated  supply,  by  the  Home 
Missionary  Society,  Dec.  1828,  and  continued  as  such  till 
Nov.  1835,  w’hen  he  wras  called  and  installed  pastor.  The 
following  is  the  roll  of  the  regular  pastors  of  the  church : 
Revs.  J.  G.  Bergen,  D.  D.  from  Nov.  1835  to  Sept.  1848. 

James  Smith,  “  April  1849  “  Dec.  1856. 

J.  H.  Brown,  D.  D.  “  Jan.  1857  “  June  1864. 

Frederick  H.  Wines,44  Sept.  1865  44  June  1869. 

J.  A.  Reed,  D.  D.  44  Feb.  1870  44  April  1888. 


1 1 


Auburn  Presbyterian  Church,  Sangamon  County, 
was  organized  in  1830,  with  twelve  members.  Messrs. 
Samuel  Mcllvain,  John  Fletcher  and  James  Fletcher  consti¬ 
tuted  the  first  bench  of  elders. 

This  church  wras  not  reported  to  the  General  Assembly 
till  1858,  and  had  then  but  twelve  members.  In  1878  thirty- 
five  wrere  reported.  It  has  never  had  a  settled  pastor. 

The  first  sessional  records  have  been  lost  and  these 
meager  facts  have  been  furnished  by  those  now  living  and 
conversant  with  the  history  of  the  church. 

Providence  Presbyterian  Church,  Cass  County,  was 
organized,  April  25,  1830,  with  fourteen  members. 

Messrs.  Jacob  Lorance  and  Benjamin  Workman  con¬ 
stituted  the  first  session. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  I  5 

This  church  had  been  served  by  various  supply  pas¬ 
tors  until  May  1872,  when  Rev.  Thomas  D.  Davis  was  call¬ 
ed  and  installed  as  pastor.  This  pastoral  relation  was  dis¬ 
solved  Sept.  23,  1874.  From  that  time  on  the  church  has 
been  supplied  by  various  ministers. 

A  historical  sketch  of  this  church  would  be  incom¬ 
plete  without  some  short  reference  to  Mr.  Jacob  F.  Bergen, 
who  for  more  than  half  a  centurv  was  the  dork  of  its  ses- 

J 

sion;  a  man  known  among  his  friends  and  acquaintances  as 
possesing  rare  intelligence,  sound  judgment,  amiable  dispo¬ 
sition  and  characterised  by  overflowing  liberality,  as  is  well 
known  to  the  members  of  this  Presbytery.  Generous  in 
his  gifts  to  the  Presbyterian  church  while  he  lived  and 
making  generous  provision  for  her  interests  in  his  last  will 
and  testament,  it  is  fitting  that  his  name  be  historically  as¬ 
sociated  with  this  church  of  Providence  and  with  this  Pres- 
bytery. 

Union  Presbyterian  Church,  Morgan  County,  was 
organized  by  a  committee  appointed  by  Center  Presbytery, 
Oct.  2,  1831,  with  thirty-five  members.  This  church  was 
afterwards  known  as  “Unity.”  The  first  session  consisted 
of  four  members,  Messrs.  James  Craig,  Jno  M.  Hill,  W.  C. 
Stevenson  and  Robert  Smith. 

The  following  ministers  have  at  various  times  supplied 
this  church:  Revs.  W.  J.  Fraser,  John  Brich,  Joseph  J. 
Gray,  William  G.  Gallaher,  David  D.  Hicker  and  Thomas 
A.  Spilman  during  the  years  from  1845  to  1854. 

The  stated  supplies  have  been  as  follows : 


i6 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Rev.  Thomas  M.  Newell,  from  1854  to  I^57* 

John  D.  Shane,  “  1857  “  1861. 

Noah  Bishop,  “  1862  “  1867. 

Thomas  D.  Davis,  “  1867  “  1870. 

R.  W.  Allen,  D.  D.  “  1870  “  1873. 

In  1871  this  church  united  with  a  part  of  the  Presby¬ 
terian  church  of  Pisgah  and  took  the  name  of  “Unity.” 
Nov.  2,  1873,  Rev.  Robert  W.  Allen  was  called  and  install¬ 
ed  pastor,  which  pastoral  relation  was  terminated  by  his 
death,  July  29,  1882.  In  May  1883  Rev.  W.  L.  Tarbet 
became  pastor-elect  of  the  united  charge  consisting  of  this 
church  and  Pisgah,  and  this  relation  continues. 


North  Sangamon  Presbyterian  Chnrch,  Sangamon 
County,  was  organized  May  20,  1832,  with  thirty-eight 
members. 

Messrs.  John  Moore  and  John  N.  Moore,  his  son,  con¬ 
stituted  the  first  session. 

This  church  was  supplied  by  various  ministers  till  Nov. 
20,  1853,  when  Rev.  R.  A.  Criswell  was  called  and  install¬ 
ed  as  pastor.  This  relation  continued  till  April  10,  1867, 
when  it  was  dissolved.  Rev.  R.  H.  Van  Pelt  was  stated 
supply  till  1869.  Rev.  John  Crozier  became  pastor  May, 
1870,  continuing  till  July,  1880.  Rev.  David  J.  Strain  was 
pastor  from  Sept.,  1880  till  June  1884.  Rev.  Barnabas 
Lyman  was  stated  supply  in  1885.  In  June  1887  Rev 
Thomas  W.  Leard  was  called  and  installed  as  pastor,  and 
so  continues. 


Naples  Presbyterian  Church,  Scott  County,  was  or¬ 
ganized  Aug.  5,  1832,  with  ten  members.  The  first  session 
consisted  of  Benjamin  Beckford. 


THE  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

Revs.  William  G.  Gallaher 

from 

1834  to  1865 

W.  D.  Sanders, 

it 

1865 

“  1872. 

Thomas  Gallaher, 

a 

1872 

“  1873- 

W.  D.  Sanders, 

a 

1873 

“  1874. 

W:  N.  Steele, 

u 

1874 

“  1881. 

P.  C.  Thyholt, 

it 

1881 

“  1882. 

W.  L.  Tarbet, 

4* 

1883 

• 

Farmington  Presbyterian  Church,  Sangamon  County, 
was  organized  December  1833.  The  original  members 
numbered  thirty. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  Asel  Lyman, 
Haraldus  Estabrook  and  Luther  N.  Ransom. 

The  church  was  furnished  with  occasional  supplies  till 
April  19,  1836,  when  Rev.  Thomas  Galt  was  called,  or¬ 
dained  and  installed  pastor. 

The  subsequent  pastorates  were  as  follows: 

Revs.  Billious  Pond,  two  years. 

- Plummer,  one  year. 

C.  B.  Barton,  four  years. 

E.  Jenney,  Missionary  Supply. 

C.  E.  Blood,  two  years. 

C.  L.  Watson,  eight  years. 

Geo.  C.  Wood,  two  years. 

In  1S65,  Center  Presbyterian  and  Farmington 
churches  were  united,  taking  the  name  of  Farmington. 
Since  this  union  the  church  has  had  the  following  pastors: 

Revs.  J.  D.  Kerr  from  June  1865  to  Sep.  1870. 

Allan  McFarland  “  Apr.  1871  “  Apr.  1877. 

A.  S.  Peck,  S.  S.  “  Apr.  1878  “  Apr.  1881. 

Asa  Leard,  S.  S.  &  Pastor,  1881  . 


20 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Revs.  J.  M.  Grout 

Gideon  C.  Clark 
C.  B.  Barton 
Hugh  Barr 
Geo.  C.  Wood, 


from 

Sep. 

1848  to 

M 

00 

vo 

• 

u 

Dec. 

1850  “ 

1851. 

a 

Sep. 

1852  “ 

1853. 

a 

1854  “ 

1857- 

a 

1865  “ 

1869. 

Then  Rev.  J.  E.  Williamson  supplied  the  church  two 
years.  As  also  Rev.  W.  G.  Gallaher  for  a  time.  Rev.  B. 
Lyman  was  stated  supply,  March  1883  to  1885.  Rev. 
William  N.  Steele  stated  supply,  June  1885  to  Dec.  1887. 

Irish  Grove  Presbyterian  Church,  Menard  county, 
was  organized  April  3,  1836,  with  thirty  members,  for  the 
most  part  formerly  members  of  the  church  of  North  Sanga¬ 
mon.  Messrs.  M.  Ravburn  and  Alex  M.  Barnet  constituted 

-  •/ 

the  first  session. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  Ewing  supplied  this  church  from 
the  time  of  its  organization  till  1838.  The  supply  pastors 
from  that  time  have  been  as  follows: 

Revs.  John  W.  Little  from  1839  to  1842. 


Thomas  Galt 

“  1843 

“  I846. 

Geo.  McKinley 

00 

''t- 

00 

M 

V# 

“  I849. 

W.  Perkins 

“  I85O 

“  1852. 

Rev.  R.  A.  Criswell  was  stated  supply  in  1854.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  F.  H.  L.  Laird  from  1855  to  1856;  and 
he  by  Rev.  John  Andrews  from  1856  to  1859.  During  the 
year  i860  the  church  had  leave  to  supply  itself.  October, 
1862  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  to  that  of 
Middletown.  In  1865  Rev.  David  J.  Strain  supplied  the 
church  for  six  months,  and  was  called  as  pastor  but  declined 
the  call.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Francis  I.  Moffatt  as 
supply  pastor  from  October  1866  to  October  1871.  In 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  ,  21 

April  1867,  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  back 
to  that  of  Irish  Grove.  In  1872  the  church  is  reported 
vacant.  From  April,  1873  t0  April  1875  Rev.  Aaron 
Thompson  was  supply  pastor.  Rev.  Joseph  Mahon  sup¬ 
plied  the  church  for  six  months  in  1875;  and  was  succeeded 
the  following  six  months  by  Rev.  J.  I.  Gulick.  Rev.  E.  K 
Lynn  became  supply  pastor  July  1876  and  continued  till 
Februrary  1870.  Rev.  R.  M.  L.  Braden  began  supplying 
the  church  May  1879  a°d  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church 
April  25,  1880.  This  relation  continued  till  April  27,  1884 
when  it  was  dissolved.  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Mitchell  supplied 
the  church  from  August  1,  1884  till  August  1885.  From 
that  time  the  church  had  only  occasional  supply  till  April 
10,  1887  when  Rev.  O.  D.  Covert  became  supply  pastor 
and  so  continues. 

Jacksonville  Second  Presbyterian  Church  had  its 
distinctive  origin  in  the  unhappy  division  in  the  First 
Church  occasioned  by  the  troubles  of  1837-8.  The  session 
of  the  First  Church  at  the  time  was  composed  of  three 
elders,  one  of  whom,  William  C.  Posey  and  a  minority  of 
the  church  forty-two  in  number  sympathising  with  the 
body  known  as  the  Old  School,  maintained  a  distinctive 
organization  until  the  union  of  the  bodies  in  1870,  when  the 
Presbytery  of  Sangamon  changed  the  name  from  Second  to 
that  of  “Central  Presbyterian  Church.” 

The  first  bench  of  elders  consisted  of  William  C. 
Posey  and  John  M.  Hill. 

The  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 

Revs.  Andrew  Todd,  Nov.  1838  to  April  1850. 

J.  V.  Dodge,  April  1851  to  April  1855. 

R.  W.  Allen,  Dec.  1858  to  May  1867. 

W.  W.  Harsha,  Nov.  1869  to  June  1884. 


2  2  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

This  church  in  1885  entered  into  union  with  the  First 
Church,  Jacksonville,  constituting  the  State  Street  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  of  that  city. 

•/ 

Winchester  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
February  19,  1837,  with  eleven  members;  and  was  at  first 
a  union  church  made  up  of  Congregationalists  and  Pres¬ 
byterians. 

The  first  bench  of  elders  consisted  of  Zalmon  Carter 
and  Stephen  Carter  who  were  ordained  and  installed  Feb. 
24,  1837.  In  April,  1839,  this  church  became  thoroughly 
Presbyterian. 

The  supply  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 

Revs.  Geo.  C.  Wood,  April,  1839,  three  years. 

W.  S.  Williams,  Nov.  1844 - 

Josiah  Porter,  Dec.  1846,  three  years. 

A.  L.  Pennoyer,  Feb.  1850,  six  months. 

Gideon  C.  Clark,  July  1850,  five  years. 

C.  J.  Pitkin,  Dec.  1856,  two  years. 

Jas.  R.  Hale,  Jan.  1859,  one  year. 

John  Henderson,  March  i860,  one  year. 

From  1861 — 65  what  ministration  the  church  enjoyed 
was  byr  occasional  supply".  During  this  period  the  congre¬ 
gation  erected  a  new  and  commodious  house  of  worship. 

The  stated  supply"  from  that  time  has  been  as  follows: 

Revs.  W.  A.  Hendrickson,  Jan.  to  July,  1865. 

W.  J.  G.  Nutting,  July  1869  to  April  1870. 

M.  P.  Ormsby,  April  1870  to  April  1871. 

J.  D.  Jones,  Oct.  1871  to  April  1873. 

I.  W.  Ward,  April  1873  to  Sept.  1874. 

Levi  C.  Littell,  Sept.  1874  t0  Sept.  1876. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  23 

Aaron  Thompson  and  others  supplied  till  April  1883. 
Then  Rev.  B.  Lyman  became  stated  supply  till  April  1885. 
He  was  succeeded  in  June  1885  by  Rev.  W.  N.  Steele  as 
supply  pastor  who  continued  this  relation  to  the  church  till 
December,  1887. 

Petersburg  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
December  1839,  with  twenty  members. 

Messrs.  John  Allen  and  L.  Y.  Plallock  constituted  the 
first  session. 

For  five  years  after  its  organization  the  church  had 
only  occasional  supply. 

Rev  Geo.  McKinley  was  the  first  regular  supply  pas¬ 
tor  from  1847  to  1857. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Pinkerton,  was  called  and  regularly  install¬ 
ed  pastor,  Sept.  1857,  and  so  continued  till  1870. 

Revs.  J.  Mahon  supplied  from  Feb.  to  Sept.  1871. 

Geo.  C.  Wood  supplied  from  Sept.  1871  to  Jan.  1872. 

Maurice  Waller,  pastor  from  Feb.  1872  to  April  1878. 

H.  V.  D.  Nevius,  D.  D.,  was  supply  pastor  in  1878. 

F.M.  Baldwin  was  stated  supply  from  Jan.  1880 — 1882. 

A.  J.  Berger  supplied  from  1882 — 1883. 

T.C.  McFarland,  pastor  from  Sept.  1884  to  Ap.  1887. 

W.  Miller  was  called  as  pastor  Sept.  1887  and  will 
soon  be  installed. 

West  Union,  (now  Murrayville)  Presbyterian  Church 
was  organized  in  Morgan  County  October  1842,  with 
fifteen  members. 

Edward  Ray  constituted  the  first  session;  but  William 
McDonald  was  very  soon  added  to  the  session. 


2 4  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

This  church  was  ministered  to  at  different  times,  from 
1842  to  1871,  by  Revs.  Thomas  A.  Spilman,  Chas  G. 
Selleck,  Thomas  M.  Newell,  Jno.  D.  Shaw,  Noah  Bishop, 
Thos.  D.  Davis  and  Robert  W.  Allen. 

April  13,  1871,  the  name  of  this  church  was  changed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Springfield  from  that  of  West  Union 
to  that  of  Murrayville.  Since  then  it  has  been  supplied  by 
Revs.  R.  W.  Allen,  James  E.  Williamson  and  again 
by  R.  W.  Allen  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  the  year 
1882.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  B.  Lyman  from  March 
1S83  to  1885:  and  he  by  Rev.  W.  N.  Steele  from  June  1885 
till  December,  1887. 

Springfield  Third  Presbyterian  Church  was  organ¬ 
ized,  February  7,  1849  with  forty-four  members,  a  colony 
from  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Springfield. 

The  first  Session  was  composed  of  Messrs.  Asahel 
Stone,  James  L.  Lamb  and  E.  R.  Wiley. 

The  church  has  been  supplied  by  the  following  pastors: 

Revs.  R.  V.  Dodge,  Aug.  1849  to  Sept.  1857. 

C.  P.  Jennings,  May  1858  to  April  1861. 

Geo  W.  F.  Birch,  Jan.  1862  to  Sept.  1869. 

H.  M.  Paynter,  Oct.  1870  to  Sept.  1874. 

Jacob  I.  Gulick,  May  1876  to  April  1877. 

Alfred  K.  Bates,  Nov.  1877  to  Oct.  1878. 

F.  M.  Baldwin  stated  supply,  1879. 

Ethan  S.  Me  Michael,  Nov.  1880 - 

Springfield  Portuguese  First  Church  was  originally 
composed  of  immigrants  in  1849,  and  was  at  first  an  inde¬ 
pendent  Presbyterian  Church.  In  September  1855  it 
was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  25 

_ 

The  session  consisted  of  the  following  named  per¬ 
sons:  J.  Glovina,  J.  DeFreitas,  J.  Correia  and  J.  DeOrnellas. 

The  pastors  of  this  church  were: 

Revs.  Antonio  DeMattos,  1850 — 1858. 

Robert  Lennington,  1862 — -1867. 

H,  W.  McKee,  1872 — 1877. 

After  this  it  remained  a  vacancy  with  occasional  sup¬ 
plies  till  in  18 86,  when  Rev.  Robert  Lennington  became 
supply  pastor. 

Jacksonville  Portuguese  First  Church  was  also  orig¬ 
inally  an  independent  Presbyterian  church  composed  of 
immigrants  who  settled  in  Jacksonville  in  1849.  This 
church  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  in  April 
1856. 

The  session  was  composed  of  Jno.  C.  Vasconcellos* 
Domingos  de  Crastos  and  John  J.  de  Menezes. 

The  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 

Revs.  Antonio  DeMattos,  1850 — 1868, 

H.  W,  McKee,  1870 — 1872* 

Henry  Vieria,  1872—1877, 

Since  1877  the  church  has  been  occasionally  supplied* 
In  1887  a  union  was  effected  between  this  church  and  the 
Central  Portuguese  church  of  Jacksonville,  forming  the 
“United  Portuguese  Presbyterian  Church.” 

Springfield  Second  Portuguese  Church  was  organ¬ 
ized  with  a  colony  from  the  First  church  in  May,  1858. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  the  following  per¬ 
sons:  Jose  Rodrigues,  Manoel  Fernandes  and  J.  Correa. 

The  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 


2  6  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Revs.  Antonio  DeMattos,  1858 — 1867. 

Hugh  Wk  McKee,  1870 — 1872. 

Henry  Vieria,  1872 — 1877.. 

E.  N.  Pires,  1877 - 

Jacksonville  Second  Portuguese  Church  was  organ¬ 
ized  May,  1858  with  a  colony  from  the  First  Portuguese 
Church. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  John  J.  de  Menezes, 
Manoel  Meline,  Manoel  J.  de  Andrade,  Joseph  de  Menezes 
and  E.  N.  Pires. 

The  following  named  pastors  have  served  this  church: 

Revs.  Robert  Lennington,  1862 — 1867. 

E.  N.  Pires,  1870 — 1877. 

C.  B.  Barton  and  R.  Lennington,  1886 - 

Jacksonville  Central  Portuguese  Church  was  or¬ 
ganized  in  1876.  And  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery  September  27,  1882. 

The  session  consisted  of  A.  J.  Vieria,  J.  Vascon- 
cellos,  John  Day,  J.  de  Ornellos  and  Antonio  M.  DeFreitas. 

Rev.  E.  N.  Pires  has  been  the  regular  supply  pastor. 

It  entered  into  union  with  the  First  Portuguese  Church 
of  Jacksonville  April  1887,  forming  the  “United  Portuguese 

Presbyterian  Church”  of  that  city. 

% 

Decatur  First  Presbyterian  Church,  was  organized 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Palestine,  Synod  of  Indiana,  May  1, 
1852,  with  ten  members;  and  Sept.  12, 1854,  was  transferred 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon  by  the  order  of  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Assembly. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  David  Hopkins. 


I 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD. 


27 


Rev.  A.  F.  Pratt  supplied  the  church  for  the  first  year. 
The  supply  pastors  and  regular  pastors  succeeding  him 
were  as  follows : 

Revs.  David  Monfort,  supply  pastor,  May  1853 — Oct.  1854. 
E.W.  Thayer,  supply  pastor,  Nov.  1854 — Mar*  1857* 
P.  D.  Young,  supply  pastor,  April  1857 — Apr.  1858. 
T.  M.  Oviatt,  supply  pastor,  June  1858 — July  1859. 


T.  M.  Oviatt,  pastor, 

D.  C.  Marquis,  pastor, 
Samuel  Conn,  pastor, 

J  as.  E.  Moffatty  pastor, 
R.  Mackenzie,  pastor, 
W.  H.  Prestlev,  pastor. 


July  1859 — Apr.  1863. 
Nov.  1863 — June  1866. 
July  1867— Sep,  1868. 
June  1869 — June  1873, 
May  1874 — May  1876. 
Nov.  1876—  - 


The  Dawson  Church  was  organized  January  23, 1857, 
with  twelve  members. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  James  Wilson,  for¬ 
merly  an  elder  in  the  First  Church,  Springfield.  In  the 
April  following,  the  church  was  received  and  enrolled  by 
Presbytery. 

The  supply  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 

Dr.  John  G.  Bergen,  October  1857 — October  1858. 

The  church  after  this  vras  occasionally  supplied  till 
May,  1861,  when  Rev.  D.  R.  Todd  became  stated  supply 
for  half  his  time  up  to  August,  1867.  He  wras  succeeded 
by  Rev.  E,  W.  Thayer  till  Nov.  1871;  and  he  by  Rev,  A. 
Bartholomew  from  Dec.  1871  to  June,  1872;  and  he  by 
Rev.  W.  G.  Ready,  who,  Oct.  25,  1872,  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  united  charge  of  Williamsville  and 
Dawson  churches.  This  relation  was  dissolved  April  15, 
1874.  March,  1875,  Rev.  B.  E.  Mayo  became  pastor  of 


28  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  united  charge  of  Williamsville  and  Dawson  churches- 

The  pastoral  relation  to  Dawson  continued  till  Oct.  io, 

1879,  when  it  was  dissolved.  Rev-  E.  W.  Thayer  became 
stated  supply  of  this  church  from  October,  1880  to  October, 
1881.  From  this  time  on  the  church  had  occasional  sup¬ 
plies  till  July,  1886,  when  a  union  was  effected  between  this 
church  and  that  of  Williamsville,  forming  the  “Union  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church  of  Williamsville.” 

The  Williamsville  Presbyterian  Church  was  organ¬ 
ized  August  26,  1857,  with  eight  members. 

Bryant  Purcell  constituted  the  first  session. 

The  church  was  without  regular  supply  till  Dec.  1862, 

when  Rev.  D.  R.  Todd  became  stated  supply  for  half  his 
time,  till  February,  1867.  In  January,  1871,  Rev.  A.  Bar¬ 
tholomew  was  supply  pastor  for  one  year.  Rev.  W.  G. 
Ready  ministered  to  this  church  from  June,  1872,  till  Oc¬ 
tober  of  the  same  year,  when  he  was  ordained  and  installed 
as  pastor;  the  relation  being  dissolved  April  15,  1874.  -^n 

June,  1874,  Rev.  B.E.  Mayo  was  stated  supply;  and  in  No¬ 
vember  ot  the  same  year  was  called  as  pastor.  In  March, 
1875,  ^  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  united  charge  of 
Williamsville  and  Dawson.  The  relation  as  pastor  between 
him  and  this  church  was  dissolved  Oct.  11,  1878.  In  May, 
1879,  Rev.  M.  M.  Cooper  was  called  and  duly  installed  as 
pastor.  But  this  relation  continued  only  till  April  of  the  fol¬ 
lowing  year.  In  the  May  following  Rev.  S.  B.  Ayers  be¬ 
came  stated  supply  for  three  years.  From  this  time  on  till 
July,  1886,  the  church  was  supplied  occasionally,  when  a 
union  was  formed  between  this  church  and  that  of  Dawson, 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  29 

constituting  “The  Union  Presbyterian  Church  of  Willians- 
ville” 

Mason  City  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in 
- 1857,  with  seventeen  members. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  the  following  mem¬ 
bers:  Gideon  Osborne  and - —  Hotchkiss. 

The  following  stated  supplies  and  pastors  have  served 
this  church: 

Rev.  John  Andrews,  stated  supply,  1857 — 1864. 

Rev.  S.  J.  Bogle  became  supply  pastor  Oct.  1867,  and 
in  1870  was  installed  as  regular  pastor.  This  pastorate 
continued  till  May  1882. 

Dr.  E.  S.  Fitz  supplied  the  church  for  nearly  a  year. 

Rev.  D.  K.  Campbell  became  pastor  July  1883,  and 
demitted  his  charge  Oct.  1886. 

Rev.  A.  G.  Lane  supplied  the  church  from  Jan.  1S87. 
and  was  installed  pastor  Nov.  1887. 

Maroa  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  Jan.  30, 
1859,  with  twenty-four  members,  and  was  received  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery  in  the  following  April. 

The  first  session  consisted  of  John  Crocker  and  James 
McCann,  Jr. 

For  the  first  five  years  subsequent  to  its  organization 
the  church  was  only  supplied  occasionally,  by  Revs.  Mc- 
Murray,  Walton  and  Dunn.  In  1864  Rev.  Aratus  Kent 
ministered  to  the  church  for  one  year.  The  church  for  the 
next  year  had  only  occasional  supplies.  In  March,  1866, 
Rev.  Joseph  Lowrie  became  stated  supply  for  one-half  his 
time.  This  supply  lasted  only  for  one  year.  In  July,  1867, 


30  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Rev.  J.  A.  Hood  became  supply  pastor,  and  in  Sept.,  1868, 
he  was  called  and  installed  as  pastor.  This  pastorate  con¬ 
tinued  till  1875.  1°  January  of  the  following  year  Rev. 

Abraham  H.  Bates  became  supply  pastor  and  continued  in 
this  relation  to  the  church  till  the  spring  of  1881.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Black,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1882,  as  stated  supply,  who  remained  with  the  church 
till  March,  1885.  In  September  following,  Rev.  Thomas 
M.  Watson  took  charge  of  the  church  and  remained  till  the 
summer  of  1886.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  C=  West, 
in  the  spring  of  1877,  who  continues  his  relation  to  the 
church  as  supply  pastor. 

The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  of  Jackson¬ 
ville,  was  organized  May  13,  i860,  with  forty-five  members. 

The  first  session  was  constituted  with  the  following 
elders:  Henry  Jones,  M.  D.,  and  David  A.  Smith. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been  as  follows: 
j  Revs.  D  H.  Hamilton,  D,  D.,  Oct.  i860  -  Dec.  1871- 

Id.  V.  D.  Nevius,  D.  D.,  Nov.  1872 — Apr.  1874. 

Samuel  M.  Morton,  October  1874 — - 

The  Virginia  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
June  12,  1863,  with  thirty-six  members. 

The  first  bench  of  elders  consisted  of  George  Wilson, 
G.  W.  Goodspeed,  M.  D.,  and  David  R.  Downing. 

The  supply  pastors  and  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 
Revs.  George  K.  Scott,  stated  supply,  Aug.  1863 — Feb.  1865. 

John  Dale,  stated  supply,  February,  1865 — Mar.  1866. 

David  J.  Strain  began  ministering  to  this  church  Mar. 
25,  1866  and  was  called  and  installed  as  pastor  the  19th  of 
the  following  June,  demitting  the  charge  July  1,  1880. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  3  I 

Rev.  J.  P.  Dawson  supplied  this  church  from  Oct,  1880, 
to  Sept.  1881,  when  he  was  called  as  pastor,  being  installed 
in  the  following  month.  He  resigned  the  pastorate  March, 
1884. 

R  ev.  D.  J.  Strain  was  again  called  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  church  July  1,  1884,  and  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month 
was  installed  as  pastor  and  so  remains. 

Macon  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  June  11, 
1865,  with  twenty-six  members,  and  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery  in  October  of  the  same  year. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  W.  W.  Johnston 
and  William  Gibson. 

The  pastors  and  supply  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 
Revs.  S.  W.  Mitchell,  supply  pastor,  Apr.  1866 — Apr.  1867. 

Clarke  Lowden,  supply  pastor,  Apr.  1867 — Apr.  1869. 

S.  D.  Jenkins,  pastor,  Dec.  1872 — Dec.  1873. 

J.  W.  Cecil,  supply  and  pastor  April,  1879 — Aug. 1882. 

Joel  Kennedy,  supply  pastor,  April,  1883 — Apr.  1886. 

W.  H.  Ilsley,  s.  s.  and  pastor,  Nov.,  1886 —  - 

Buffalo  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  Dec.  20, 
1865,  with  nine  members. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  Samuel  Pheasant 
and  Jacob  Lewis. 

This  Church  having  been  supplied  occasionally  from 
its  organization  by  different  members  of  the  Presbytery, 
never  enjoyed  much  more  than  a  bare  existence,  and  was 
finally  dissolved  April  15,  1880  and  the  remaining  members 
were  instructed  to  unite  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Dawson. 


32  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

» 

Bethel  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  at  Har- 
ristown,  May  7?  1866,  with  twenty-two  members. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  J.  R.  Garrison  and 
J.  H.  Allen. 

This  Church  was  occasionally  supplied  with  the  min¬ 
istration  of  word  and  ordinances,  but  by  death  and  re¬ 
movals,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  became  almost  extinct 
and  was  formally  dissolved  by  order  of  Presbytery,  April 
15,  1880. 

Lincoln  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  Oct.  5  5 
1866,  with  twenty-seven  members. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  J.  C.  Ross,  H.  T. 
Stryker  and  D.  Gillespie. 

The  pastors  and  supply  pastors  have  been  as  follows: 
Revs.  A.  J.  Layenberger,  pastor,  June  1868 — April  1870. 

L.  P.  Crawford,  pastor  elect,  Nov.  1870 — Dec.  1878. 

W.  Omelvena,  stated  supply,  Apr.  1879 — May  1880. 

S.  T.  Wilson,  D.D.,  pastor  elect,  Oct,  1880 — Feb.  1882. 

A.  H.  Trick,  s.  s.  and  pastor,  May  1882 — June  1884. 

A.  Michael,  pastor  elect,  Oct.  1884 — Nov.  1887. 

C.  E.  Schaible  is  now  pastor  elect. 

Beardstown  German  Presbyterian  Church  was  form¬ 
erly  in  connection  with  the  German  Reformed  Church,  and 
was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  and  enrolled 
April  15,  1868. 

This  church  from  its  reception  by  the  Presbytery  was 
ministered  to  by  Rev.  F.  W.  Steffens  till  in  1874.  Then 
Rev.  Rudolph  Shide  became  pastor  elect  and  remained 
with  the  church  till  in  1876.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  33 

F.  W.  Steffens  as  supply  pastor  in  1877  who  continued  his 
ministrations  till  1879.  After  which  by  death  and  removal 
its  numbers  became  so  reduced  that  the  organization  was 
dissolved  Sept.  7?  1881,  and  the  property  sold.  The  pro¬ 
ceeds  of  the  sale  being-  devoted  to  refunding;  to  the  Board 
of  Church  Erection  the  amount  of  the  appropriation  form¬ 
erly  made  by  the  Board,  the  remainder  being  passed  into 
the  treasury  of  the  Presbytery. 

Tallula,  afterwards  Pleasant  Plains,  Presb}rterian 
Church,  was  organized  December,  1867,  with  sixteen 
members. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Taylor  constituted  the  first  session. 

Revs.  S.  M.  Wilson  and  S.  B.  Ayers  ministered  to  this 
church  on  alternate  Sabbaths  for  the  space  of  ten  years 
after  its  organization.  Then  Rev.  S.  M.  Wilson  became  its 
supply  pastor  till  in  1880.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Asa  Heard,  who  was  regularly  installed  pastor  in  1881  over 
the  united  charge  of  Farmington  and  this  church. 

Decatur  Second  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
Jan.  18,  1868,  with  forty-nine  members;  all  but  seven  of 
whom  being  formerly  members  of  the  First  Church. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  Henry  Pressy,  J.  H. 
Lewis  and  Geo.  E.  Morehouse.  The  board  of  deacons  con¬ 
sisted  of  J.  S.  Clark  and  W.  M.  Barret. 

The  church  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery 
and  enrolled  April  16,  1868,  and  on  the  same  day  presented 
a  call  to  Rev.  A.  L.  Brooks  to  become  the  pastor.  The 
call  was  accepted  and  he  was  installed  the  5th  of  the  fol¬ 
lowing  month.  This  pastorate  continued  till  near  the  close 


34  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 

of  the  year  1870,  when  under  the  influence  of  the  union  of  the 
two  Schools,  a  movement  was  made  to  unite  the  congrega¬ 
tions  of  the  First  and  Second  Churches.  To  facilitate  this,  J 
Rev.  Brooks  resigned  the  pastorate,  and  the  union  of  the 
two  churches  was  accomplished;  the  sessions  of  both 
churches  uniting  and  forming  the  session  of  the  First  Church. 

Illiopolis  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  Feb.  22, 

1868,  with  eighteen  members. 

Archibald  Maxwell,  Samuel  Zollinger  and  George 
Johnson  constituted  the  first  session.  The  board  of  dea¬ 
cons  consisted  of  Milton  Dean  and  John  H.  Dixon. 

The  church  was  supplied  only  occasionally;  and  its 
membership  was  soon  so  depleted  by  death  and  removal 
that  it  became  practically  extinct  and  was  formally  dis¬ 
solved  by  Presbytery  April  15,  1880,  and  the  few  members 
still  remaining  were  instructed  to  unite  with  the  church  at 
Dawson. 

Bates  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  May  20, 

1869,  with  eleven  members. 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  David  A.  Brown 
and  Alexander  A.  Patteson.  Rev.  John  H.  Brown,  D.  D. 

was  supply  pastor  for  half  the  time,  during  the  first  year. 

\ 

He  was  succeeded  by  Revs.  Thayer,  Birch  and  Dr.  Bergen, 
who  supplied  occasionally  until  the  spring  of  1874,  when 
Rev.  Allen  McFarland  became  supply  pastor,  for  half  the 
time,  until  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  when  Rev.  H.  V.  D. 
Nevius,  D.  D.,  became  the  supply  pastor  till  in  Sept.  1887. 

This  church  has  never  received  any  aid  from  the  Board 
of  Home  Missions.  All  the  pecuniary  assistance  outside  of 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  .  35 

its  own  congregation  that  has  been  rendered  it,  has  been 
from  the  Board  of  Church  Erection. 

Brush  Creek  Presbyterian  Church,  Sangamon  county, 
was  organized  April  12,  1871,  with  fifteen  members. 

The  first  session  consisted  of  R.  S.  Brown.  The 
church  was  supplied  for  the  first  few  years  during  the  sum¬ 
mer  months  by  Revs.  John  H.  Harris,  H.  G.  Pollock  and 
John  D.  Jones,  successively.  These  were  followed  by  Rev. 
W.  L.  Tarbet  as  supply  pastor,  who  ministered  during  the 
summer  and  autumn  for  some  four  years.  He  was  succeed¬ 
ed  by  Rev.  Aaron  Thompson  as  stated  supply  for  one 
year;  and  he  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Dunning,  who  supplied  dur¬ 
ing  the  summer  months  for  two  years;  and  he  by  Mr.  D. 
L.  Temple,  a  student  from  the  Theological  Seminary,  who 
supplied  them  a  year  and  six  months,  up  to  October,  1886. 
Rev.  M.  H.  Ambrose  became  their  supply  pastor  immedi¬ 
ately  after  Mr.  Temple  had  left  the  field,  and  has  since 
been  called  and  installed  as  pastor,  Feb.  28,  1888. 

In  the  summer  of  1887  the  church  edifice  was  removed 
to  Divernon  and  repaired,  and  a  manse  erected. 

Pennsylvania  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
in  the  summer  of  1873,  with  twenty-six  members.  The 
church  has  been  supplied  usually  by  the  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Mason  City. 

Hickory  Grove  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
in  the  autumn  of  1873,  with  twenty  members,  and  was  re¬ 
ceived  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  April  1874,  and  was 
formally  dissolved,  April  12,  1882. 


3^ 


THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 


It  was  supplied  in  connection  with  Beardstown  and 
shared  with  that  congregation  the  same  influences  dimin¬ 
ishing  its  numbers  and  finally  leading  to  its  being  dissolved. 

Sweetwater  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
March  29,  1879  with  ten  members.. 

McKinley  Jones  constituted  the  first  session.  Adolph 
Funk  was  elected  and  ordained  as  Deacon. 

The  Church  was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  R..  M.  L. 
Braden,  from  Sept.  1879  till  the  spring  of  1884.  Rev.  S. 
W.  Mitchell  was  stated  supply  from  the  spring  of  1884  to 
that  of  1885. 

After  this  the  church  was  occasionally  supplied  until 
in  1887,  Rev.  O.  D.  Covert  became  and  continues  supply 
pastor. 

Greenview  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  Dec. 
11,  1883,  with  twelve  members 

The  first  session  was  composed  of  Louis  K.  Burns 
and  Hugh  Foster.  Charles  C.  Reid  was  elected  and  or¬ 
dained  Deacon. 

Rev.  R.  M.  L.  Braden  was  stated  supply  from  the 
time  of  organization  till  Sept.  2,  1884,  when  he  was  install¬ 
ed  as  pastor.  This  relation  was  dissolved  Jan.  26,  1886. 
Since  that  time  the  church  has  been  supplied  only  occasion- 
ally. 

Jacksonville  State  Street  Presbyterian  Church  was 
formed  by  the  union  of  the  former  First  and  Central 
Churches  of  the  same  city,  April  15,  1885.  The  sessions 
of  the  two  original  churches  forming  the  session  of  the 
united  church. 


PRESBYTERY  OF  SPRINGFIELD.  37 

Rev.  A.  B.  Morey  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church 
June  7,  1885  and  so  continues. 

Williamsville  Union  Presbyterian  Church  was 
formed  by  the  union  of  the  former  Williamsville  and  Daw¬ 
son  Churches,  July  24,  1886.  The  sessions  of  the  two 
churches  forming  the  session  of  the  United  Church. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  church  two  additional 
elders,  P.  J.  Telfir  and  A.  L.  Berry,  were  elected  and  or¬ 
dained. 

This  union  was  recognized  by  Presbytery,  and  the 
name  of  the  united  church  enrolled  Sept.  1886.  Rev.  D. 
E.  Ambrose  became  the  supply  pastor  Oct.  1,  1886  and  so 
continues. 

Jacksonville  United  Portuguese  Presbyterian  Church 
was  formed  by  the  union  of  the  First  and  Central  Portu¬ 
guese  Churches  of  the  same  city  April,  1887. 

The  session  was  constituted  as  follows  :  Antonio  Nunes, 
Jos.  P.  Correa,  John  Day,  Patricio  Nunes  and  Jose  de  Or- 
nellas. 

Rev.  E.  N.  Pires  has  been  installed  pastor  of  the  church. 

ResftectftiUy  submitted , 

W.  H.  Prestley,  )  ^ 

D.  J.  Strain.  \  Conlm,ttee- 


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